Deleyaman

Deleyaman is an independent darkwave, post-rock band formed in 2000 by Aret Madilian, an American multi-instrumentalist living in Europe.

History

Deleyaman was founded in the fall of 2000 by Aret Madilian, an American-Armenian multi-instrumentalist, musician and singer originally from Los Angeles, California living in a French coastal village on the English Channel. A former member of a little-known, obscure post-punk, New Wave band called Wog from the South Bay in Los Angeles, Madilian's first album (released as a 12 inch 45rpm in 1983), was recorded and produced by Spot, the record producer and engineer of the influential Los Angeles independent record label SST Records.

Deleyaman initially consisted of Aret Madilian, Beatrice Valantin (a French singer and keyboard player) and Gerard Madilian, an Armenian duduk player. Mia Bjorlingsson, their Swedish female drummer joined the band a year later, following the release of the first Deleyaman album 00/1 in 2001. Ara Duzian, a friend and a guitarist, who'd partially participated to the recording sessions of the band's 2009 release entitled Fourth, Part One, joined Deleyaman that same year before leaving the band shortly after the release of Fourth, Part Two in 2011.

The musical genre is difficult to categorize, as the band is very eclectic. However, some sources have tried to describe their music as ethereal, dreamy, darkwave, post-rock, post-gothic, atmospheric. Early albums also have elements of the world music genre.

The presence of the Armenian wind instrument called the duduk, next to contemporary electronic instruments, guitars, bass, drums, the organ and the two singers, Aret and Beatrice, singing in several languages, are a part of Deleyaman's musical signature.

The first three Deleyaman albums, 00/1 (2001), Second (2003) and 3 (2006) produced by TTO Records and Deleyaman, were released on the Paris-based world music indie label Editions Nech. Deleyaman's last two albums entitled Fourth, Part One & Fourth, Part Two, were released in 2009 and 2011 on TTO Records in collaboration with the Naregatsi Art Institute in North America. The European versions of the albums were released by the Portuguese independent label, Equilibrium Music.

Discography

Albums

• 00/1 (2001)
• Second (2003)
• 3 (2006)
• Fourth, Part One (2009)
• Fourth, Part Two (2011)

Promotional CDs

• Is (3 title CD promo) (2005)

Compilations

• Fairy World II (Prikosnovenie compilation, 2005 "Ambi Metch")
• Elegy Sampler 42 (Elegy compilation, 2006 "Yergnain")
• Elegy Sampler 59 (Elegy compilation, 2009 "Temples")
• Elegy Sampler 67 (Elegy compilation, 2011 "Change Things")

Film/documentary scores

• Project Save 12min Documentary by Ara Sahiner 2002 (U.S.)
• Discovering My Father's Village: Edincik (aka Reaching My Roots; by Apo Torosyan 2003 (U.S.)

References

"Uncut (UK)"
"Side-Line"
"Musicfolio"
"Livid Looking Glass-Interview"
"French Ministry of Culture Music Site - Langues de France en Chansons"
"UNESCO"
"Deleyaman Official Website"

External links

• Official Deleyaman site
• Deleyaman on MySpace
• Deleyaman on Facebook